Cushioned horseshoe



(No Model.)

' G. H. FITZGERALD.

CUSHIONED HORSESHOE. No. 598,144. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

w 2 a l H IS ATTORNEY FIG 3 \v ITNESSESa/ UNITED STATES i PATENT rricn.

GEORGE H. FITZGERALD, OF LAKE FOBEST,'ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO MICHAEL MORAN, OF WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS.

.CUSHIONED HORSESHOE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,144, dated February 1,1898.

Application filed May 24,1897. Serial No. 687,893. (No model.)

To all whom itnmy concern.- I

Be it known that I, GEORGE I-I. FITZGERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Forest, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horseshoes, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to horseshoes, and particularly to cushioned horseshoes. Its objects to are, first, to provide a horseshoe with a separable cushion, so that when one cushion is worn out another may be supplied on the same frame of the shoe, and, second, to provide simple means for securing the cushion and frame together. I accomplish these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the under side of a cushioned horseshoe constructed according to my invention, with the slots 3and 4: the recess 3, and the anchors shown in dotted lines on one-half of the shoe. Fig. 2 is aside view of same, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line x to of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a z 5 portion of the cushion at the place where the slots 3 and 4 in the frame are separated. The cushion is turned over in this View, showing the flange 1 uppermost.

The frame 2 or metal part of the horseshoe is provided with. apertures or slots 3 The cushion, which is made of elastic material, preferably rubber, consists of the body 1 and the flange 1, connected by the neck 1". The frame is also preferably provided with the re- 3 5 cess 3, in which the cushion is seated.

The anchors 5 and 6 are molded into the body of the cushion, but not into the flange 1, which is provid ed with an aperture for the tongues 5 and 6', through which the same project when the cushion is secured to the frame.

The ends of the tongues 5 6 are spun out after the cushion is on the frame, the cushion and frame being thereby riveted together.

To secure the cushion to the frame, the

flange 1 is forced through the slots in the frame, then springing back to its normal position, being the position best shown in Figs. 3 and 4..

The neck 1 is cut away except at the places where slots for same are provided in the frame of the shoe.

The flange 1 is cut away where the slots end or is suitably slitted, so that same may be forced through the slots.

The cushion 1 is preferably made heavier at the heel and toe, where the anchors are molded into same and where same will be most Worn away by use.

The calk 2 on the frame is preferably made of less depth than the cushion, so that the former will not strike upon the ground or pave ment, the purpose of the calk being mainly to protect the front of the cushion.

The frame is provided with the usual recesses 7 and apertures 7', through which the nails are driven in securing the shoe to the horses hoof.

I am aware that horseshoes have heretofore been used with elastic material on both faces connected by a neck passing through apertures in the frame of the shoe. I do not therefore claim such construction broadly. In such shoes, however, the cushion has heretofore been permanently fixed to the shoe, as by molding same thereon, so that when the cushion was worn down it was necessary to prac tically make a new shoe.

In my construction the cushion and frame may be readily secured together by any blacksmith, and when one cushion is worn out another may be readily supplied on the same frame.

The anchors, which are made of metal, serve as a ready means for securing the parts together, as well as for protecting the cushion in the parts upon which there is the greatest wear.

hen the shoe is fastened on the hoof, it will be seen that the flange 1' is firmly held between the frame and the hoof.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A horseshoe comprising a frame having slots therein, and apertures for anchors; and a removable elastic cushion for said frame having integral necks thereon adapted to extend through said slots, with integral flanges at the outer end of the said necks adapted to be passed through said slots and spread out on the frame; and anchors 5 and 6 seated in the cushion and adapted to project through said apertures for riveting the cushion to the frame, substantially as described.

2. A horseshoe-cushion, comprising an elastic body having integral necks projecting from one of its faces, integral flanges on the outer end of said necks'adapted to be passed- 

